????Dad came through the door followed by mom, Damien the family lawyer, Ryder, Bianca, and..."Nonna?" Aww shit. "Don't nonna me young man, what the hell have you been getting up to you little scamp?" ??She waltzed over to where I was now standing holding Skylar close to my side. ??Nonna is a wildcard. You never knew what the hell was gonna come out of her mouth from one moment to the next. She stopped in front of us, squinting at Skylar. What a con, I happen to know she has excellent eyesight. She studied my baby like a lab experiment making my hackles rise. I didn't expect her to say anything untoward but like I said, the old lady's a wildcard who knows which way the wind will blow? ??"Where's grandpa?" He was the only one that maybe could control the old termagant if she got out of hand. "Walking the halls, reliving his glory days, the old coot. Unhand the girl Talon, good Lord she looks like an appendage stuck to your side like that." "That'll be

Now I'm walking to practice with my girl who's doing a lot better thanks to yours truly riding rough shod over her ass. She's proven to be more stubborn now since she'd met my family, which leads me to wonder just what the hell the women in my family had told her. If they'd given her any pointers on how to run my ass they were a bit late. She didn't need any help in that department. It seemed to come naturally to whichever woman the Avery men ended up latched onto. She's all bundled up because it's cold and she has a flask full of hot chocolate to keep her warm. "Fix your hat Skye." "My hats fine Talon if I pull it down any farther I wouldn't be able to see where I'm going." She batted at the hand I tried fixing it with. "I told you to wear the one with the ear flaps, it's cold out here. You don't need to catch a cold on top of everything else." I fixed her scarf tighter around her neck and ignored the eye roll, whatever. I wanted her in

There was one thing I could tackle now that we had the time. I could revisit a topic we'd been haggling over for the last week. This time I meant to get it sorted once and for all, and of course I mean to get my way. My baby doesn't listen worth shit I believe I've mentioned this before. Funny, it had always looked like my dad ruled the roost, but if mom and Bianca were putting him and Rye through the same hoops as this one did me, then they weren't ruling shit. I'm gonna change that shit though, it was the only way I'm gonna survive this love mess. "Now we can talk about thanksgiving, it's next week, you're coming home with me right?" We've been having this...discussion, for a week now; she'd called her parents and they'd put pressure on her to come home. There was no way I was going to let that happen but I didn't want it to look like I was forcing her. I wanted her to know she had choices even though she's always accusing me of being a dictator wher

"Wake up sweetheart we're here." I kissed her hair as she came out of her nap. She'd slept for the last two hours of the flight while I spent my time either reading or watching her. Sometimes it hit me out of nowhere that this amazing creature was really mine. That I'd been lucky enough to find someone who could make me feel. I had all but despaired of that ever happening. Growing up around the love between my parents and grandparents and later seeing my brother find his own forever, I'd secretly believed that the family legend had skipped one after all. I just never found that burning desire with anyone else, until now. "Hmmmmmm?" She started to wake up. I'd opted to use the family plane after all because dealing with holiday travelers did not seem appealing at all, besides we got here faster. She was so cute when she first woke up, like a little kitten all cuddly and sweet. I held her as she went through her routine of eye rubbing, yawn, snuggle into my chest

"So, Talon, I hear you finally took the plunge." Mason's voice brought me back from my thoughts. "Yep, what of it?" "Nothing, nothing, just saying welcome to the club." Mason was about as crazy about Kinsley as the men in my family were about their wives. Only thing is I think he was missing the real crazy gene, he got an extra helping of gentleman instead. Bastard thinks he's fucking Rhett Butler or some shit. "I'm not whipped dude, not like the rest of you clowns anyway." They started laughing at me. Okay, even I knew I was talking out my ass but hey I couldn't go out like that. They each had something to say about my plight and everybody had advice on how to proceed. I ignored all their bullshit, as much as I admired their relationships and the strength and unity I saw there I wasn't about to let Skylar run me. That shit would never work, I have to be the one in charge that's just who I am. With my mind set I got down to the serious b